Pump-lubricator



WALTER V. TURNER OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WL-MERDING. PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANA.

PUMP-LUBRICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug, i2, i949..

Application led December 28, 1918. Serial No. 268,630.

' cators, of which lthe following is a specication.,

This invention relates to lubricating devices, and more particularly to a lubricating device adapted for lubricating the air cylinders of a fluid compressor.

More specifically, the invention is in the nature of an improvement on the construction covered by my prior Patent No. 1,045,462, dated November 26, 1912, in which the lubrication is effected by means of oil entrained in fluid under pressure.

The principal object of the present inven tion is to dispense with the spring controlled check valve of my prior patent, since there is some liability of the check valve4 failing to operate as intended, by reason of oil and dirt getting under the check valve and preventing the same from seating, and since the use of a spring to hold the check valve seated is more or less uncertain in action, due to the fact that the air pressure which opposes the pressure of the spring varies to a considerable extent.

Another feature of my present improvement is that the air passes through the oil and is saturated with oil on the suction stroke of the compressor, and since the oil saturated air passes immediately to the air cylinder of the compressor on the same suction stroke, there is no opportunity for the oil to settle out of the air and thus weaken the lubricating quality of the air.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a central sectional view of a lubricator embodying my invention.

According to the construction shown ,in the drawing, the lubricator may comprise a casing l, having a plug 2, adapted to be screwed into the cylinder head 3 of the air cylinder of an air or iiuid compressor.

Within the casing l is an oil chamber 4, l

Extending downwardly into the chamber 4, is a tube 7, having its lower end closed, except for a port 8, and provided at its upper end with a passage 9, which connnunicates with chamber 4 and contains a ball check valve 10.

I n operation, the chamber 4 is filled with oil to about the level shown in the drawing, through the opening, presented by unscrewing the ller plug ll, and then the plug is screwed back into place.

lOn the compression stroke of the compressor, fluid under pressure passes through passage 6 of the lubricator and thence A through port 5 to the chamber 4. From ,chamber l4, 'the compressed iiuid `flows through passageQ, lifting check valve l0, to the interior chamber of tube 7.

Upon the suction stroke of the compres sor, the fluid pressure in chamber 4 rapidly reduces by flow through port 5 and passage G, back to the air cylinder of the compressor, and the fluid pressure in the chamber within tube 7, being prevented by check valve l0 from returning through passage 9 to chamber 4, first forces the oil, which may be contained in the tube, out through the port 8 into chamber 4, and then the fluid under pressure within the tube 7 follows the oil through said port and bubbles up through the body of oil in chamber 4, thus saturating the air with lubricant. l

The oil saturated air, thus formed, then flows out through the port 5 and passage 6 to the air cylinder of the compressor for the purpose of lubricating same.

Upon the succeeding compression stroke of the compressor, fluid under pressure is again admitted to chamber 4 and again passes through passage 9 to the chamber within the tube 7, so that upon the next suction stroke, fluid under pressure passes from the tube through port 8 and becomes saturated with oil by bubbling up through the body of oil in chamber 4, so that it Will be seen that the lubricator operates continually to supply oil saturated air to the air cylinder of the compressor upon each suction stroke.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z- 1. A lubricator for fluid compressors comprisingr a casing having a chamber eonfaininteY a quantity of' lubricant and a fluid pressure. chamber from which fluid is drawn through the lubricant, upon the suction stroke of the compressor.

A lubricator for fluid compressors comprising a easing having a chamber containing' a quantity of' lubricant and a chamber containing fluid under fpressure from which fluid is forced, by the uid pressure in said chan'iber through the lubricant', upon the suction stroke of the compressor.

3. A lubricator for fluid compressors comprising a casing having a chamber containing a quantity of lubricant and communieating with the fluid compressing cylinder of the compressor, and a chamber having a v assaefe communicatin with the lubricant chamber below the surface of the lubricant and having a passage for sup lying to said chamber, fluid compressed y the compresser.

4. A lubricator for fluid compressors cornprising a casing having a chamber containing a quantity of lubricant and having a passage leadingY from the space above the surface of the lubricant lo the fluid compressing` cylinder of the compressor, a [luid chamber havingr a passage communicating with the lubricant chamber below the surface of the lubricant and having a passage communicating with the fluid compressingr cylinder, and a check valve for preventing back flow from the, fluid chamber to the fluid compressing cylinder.

A lubricatvor for fluid compressors comprising a casing liavingrr a chamber containing' a quantity of lubricant and constantly subject to the pressure of fluid in Jche fluid compressingr cylinder of the con'ipressor7 a chamber having: a passage for supplying to said chamber, fluid compressed by the compressor, and a passage communicating with the lubricant chamber below the surface of the lubricant, anda check valve for preventing back flow from the fluid chamber to the compressor.

In testimony Where-of l have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER V.' TURNER. 

